Passo del Crosèt

Overview

Passo del Crosèt is a full-fledged hors catégorie ascent: 17.1 km of continuous climbing that lifts you from a valley floor at 199 m to a summit of 1387 m. That is 1188 m of net elevation gain, with 1180 m of total ascent, meaning the road barely relents once it tips upward — there are no meaningful descents to steal back the height you have earned. The average gradient of 6.94% is the kind of number that sounds manageable on paper and feels relentless in the legs, because at this length it never lets you fully recover. This is a climb measured in patience as much as power.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Do the arithmetic and the shape reveals itself. A 6.94% average across 17.1 km is a long, sustained pull rather than a series of walls. But the 13.13% maximum tells you the road is not uniform: the steepest ramp is nearly double the average, so expect the gradient to swing above and below that 6.94% mean repeatedly. The gap between the 1188 m net gain and the 1180 m of total ascent is tiny — only 8 m — which confirms there is almost no false flat or dip to hide in. You climb, and then you keep climbing. The hardest pitches will punish anyone who has spent too freely on the gentler early kilometres.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Ride the opening kilometres well within yourself, targeting an effort you can hold for the full 17.1 km rather than chasing the fastest riders off the bottom. A useful anchor is your FTP: on an HC climb of this duration you will likely settle just under threshold, dialling the intensity up only where the gradient bites toward that 13.13% max. If you are unsure of your number, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a plan. The single biggest mistake here is going too hard before the halfway point — with 1188 m of gain to absorb, an early overreach turns the final kilometres into damage control.

Gearing

Gear for the length, not the average. Because the road ramps toward 13.13% while asking you to hold power for over an hour, a compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide cassette is the sensible choice. A 34×32 will get most fit climbers up the sustained sections at a workable cadence, but on the steepest pitches — and deep into the climb when fatigue has drained your legs — a 34×34 gives you the extra room to keep spinning rather than grinding. If your bike can take it, err toward the easier ratio; you will never regret the spare gear on 17.1 km of HC climbing.

Summary

Passo del Crosèt rewards steady, intelligent riding: pace the long middle, save something for the ramps near the top, and let your gearing do the work. Respect the distance and the 6.94% average, and the summit at 1387 m is entirely attainable.

Length: 17.1 km
Average gradient: 6.94%
Max gradient: 13.13%
Start: 199 m
Summit: 1387 m
Net gain: 1188 m
Total ascent: 1180 m
Category: HC